Mr. Pryn's Letter AND PROPOSALS, TO Our Gracious Lord and sovereign King Charles: AND His majesty's Gracious Resolves to all His Loving Subjects, of what Degree or Quality soever.  
Published for general Satisfaction.  
London, Printed for Nathaniel Cotes, 1660.   

Mr. Pryn's Letter TO His Sacred majesty King Charles. AND His majesty's Gracious Declaration thereupon.  
FOrasmuch, as there hath been many Objections, Excuses, and Pretences, purposely made to justify, extenuate or excuse the drinking of Healths, notwithstanding the odious, sinful & unheal●hful drinking thereof; It was judged meet to publish Mr. Pryn's Dedicatory Letter to his Majesty (annexed to his Compendious Discourse, called, Healths-Sickness) prefixed in these words;  
To the most High and Mighty Prince, Charles By the Grace of God, King of Great Britain, &c.  
Most Gracious and Dread sovereign,  
THe Reasons which swayed and emboldened me to Dedicate so small a Pamphlet unto so great a Patron as your Majesty were chiefly these.  
First, Because your Highness in regard of these infinite and many Healths, which are daily caroused in your royal Name throughout the Kingdom, and elsewhere, are more interested in the Theme and Subject of this compendious Discourse, than any other that I know.  
In that your sacred Health, your Name, your Crown, and Dignity, by means of Healths, are made the daily Table-complement, Grace, and first salute of every jovial Courtier, and chief Allegiance of every petty Corporation, Court or Country-Officer; the phrase and valour of every deboist and roaring soldier; the Livery and Table, Buttery and Cellar-talk of every good-fellow-serving-man; the first ingredient of every drunkard's cup; the first pot-service of every great or mean man's table; the only reign or pole-axe to assault, to force, and overcome the Sobriety and temperance of all true-hearted, real, practical, and blessed Christians, who make a conscience of excess (because the Scripture doth condemn it;) the chief alective Bait, or Stratagem, to draw men unto drunkenness; and the only Protection and Patronage to justify and bear out the intemperance and riot of all such who deemed excess and drunkenness, a virtue, and no sin at all (at least but venial) if your majesty's Health occasion it. And is not this a great affront, indignity, and Dishonour to your Majesty, that your Sacred health, your name, and Royal Crown should be thus profaned and banded up and down in every drunkard's mouth, in every Cup and Can; in every Tavern, Taphouse, Hall or Cellar; that every degenerous, infamous, and stigmatical Belialist, every deboist and brutish Pot-companion, should so far debase and undervalue them; as to prostitute them to their swinish sins and lusts.  
Secondly, as Healths do thus dishonour, so they do likewise prejudice and wrong your Sacred Majesty in two respects.  
First, In merging and quenching the fervency of prayers, turning them into profane, hellish Healths; the only means to draw down Curses and Diseases, yea Woes and fatal judgements on King and Kingdom deeming it a greater breach of Allegiance not to pledge your majesty's Health than not to pray for it.  
Secondly, By interessing and engaging your Majesty in the excess and drunkenness of many others; Your Name being made a party to it; Four Health an occasion, apology or justification of it.  
Thirdly, Because none is so able in respect of ● and Power, none more obliged in regard of Duty, To purge these Hydropical noxious and superfluous humours, and unhealthy Healths, out of the Body of our State and Kingdom, now so distempered and overcharged by them.  
Your majesty's loyal and humble Subject, WIL: PRYNNE.  
At the beginning of his incomparable Book, He urgeth many solid Arguments against drinking of Healths; proving it to be a vain, Carnal, Heathenish, and Foolish custom; and that which is against the Rules of Charity and Justice; so that it must needs be sinful and utterly unlawful, because it is a violation of the Law of God, of Man, and Nature, &c.  
And whereas his Gracious Majesty having set forth a Proclamation, prohibiting the spending of time in Taverns, Tipling-houses, and Debauches, further Care is now taken to prevent all such Riotings, and infamous Actions.  
And whereas several Gentlemen at such times, have entered upon private quarrels, by Duel & single Combat, upon slight, and, which ought not to be, upon any provocation, His Majesty out of his pious care to prevent unchristian and rash effusion of Blood, hath set forth a Proclamation, strictly charging and commanding all loving Subjects of what quality soever, That neither they, by themselves, nor by others either by Message, Word, Writing or other ways or means, challenge or cause to be challenged any person or persons to fight in combat or single Duel; nor carry, accept or conceal any such challenge or appointment, nor actually fight such Duel with any of his majesty's Subjects, or others; or as a Second, or otherwise, accompany or become Assistant therein. And His Majesty hath further declared, That every person or persons who shall offend contrary to his majesty's express Command, shall nor only incur his highest displeasure, but thereby become incapable of holding or entertaining either Office or Employment in his majesty's Service, and never afterwards be permitted to come into his Court or Presence. And further, He or They to suffer such other pains and punishments, as the Law shall inflict, upon Offences of that horrid Nature.  
FINIS.